A Sabbath Day's Journey

This Sunday is known to many as Good Shepherd Sunday, and the Gospel text is usually from a part of John 10. This gospel account is probably the best to have when you run out of resurrection accounts from a particular gospel (because the season of Easter is usually seven weeks long).

The perspective of the Gospel according to John is significantly different from the beginning. Right away we hear confessions of faith from John the Baptist and from some of the disciples as well.

We eventually hear statements of faith from some Samaritans of all people! And the man who was born blind ends up defending Jesus rather well. And I would imagine that Lazarus had some stories to tell after he had been dead for four days; the enemies of Jesus decided that they needed to get rid of him as well.

The struggles that are seen in the book of Acts are somewhat reflected in this gospel account, and that is a healthy repetition. Often we think of the gospel accounts as just having stories that tell some more of what Jesus did while he was on earth. But they were picked with a purpose.

The writer clearly states that purpose near the end of his work: 'These things were written that YOU may believe....' The writer dares to get personal, and that is because eternal lives are ultimately at stake.

And the beginning of the text from John 10 is a reminder of the importance of simple words. The sheep hear the voice of their shepherd and follow him. His words are different from the words of others. The text specifically points out the thieves and robbers. Both thieves and robbers try to take things; Jesus does the opposite and tries to give things out.

The way of salvation in any made-up religion has you doing something; Christianity has God, in Christ, doing something for you. Now that is something worth following.